Taxis on the islands that are at alert levels 1 and 2 will be able to occupy all seats in their vehicles, thus responding to a demand from the sector. The proposal was approved at the last Governing Council at the proposal of the Minister of Public Works, Transport and Housing of the Government of the Canary Islands, Sebastián Franquis, and this Monday it has been published in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC) for its immediate entry into force.
Until now, a maximum of two occupied seats were allowed in each row of seats in taxis, regardless of the alert level. "This responds to a request from the sector that demanded greater availability in their vehicles in line with the de-escalation initiated on the islands as a result of the progress of the vaccination campaign, since since the beginning of the health crisis in 2020, taxis can only transport a maximum of two passengers per row and no one next to the driver, thus limiting their loading capacity," explain from the regional Executive.
Councilor Franquis recalled that last Friday, and on the occasion of the Canary Islands Land Transport Board, he already communicated to the representatives of the taxi sector the modification approved in the council on Thursday of the preventive measures to adapt them to the current reality, with a large sector of the population already vaccinated with the complete schedule and in full economic recovery of the islands. "To favor this recovery in the taxi sector, it has been considered essential to allow the occupation of all seats in these vehicles in those islands with better figures in relation to the pandemic, in line with the rest of public land transport," he stressed.
However, the new rule introduces the exception that the driver, at his personal discretion, may leave the passenger seat right next to him empty and only allow the rear seat rows to be occupied. In the islands with the worst pandemic figures and therefore located in levels 3 and 4, the restrictions that were already in force are maintained, that is, two occupied seats per row of seats and no one next to the driver, as a preventive measure and until the health situation evolves favorably.
Regardless of the pandemic situation, in all alert levels all occupants must wear a mask and the air renewal will be guaranteed, with open windows or an outside air intake system. It is also not allowed to use the interior air recirculation function of the vehicle.
